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Seasons passed and yet, time did not move for William Thorn. Autumn turned to winter and he wished he'd be snuggled up near the fire, a mug of cocoa in his hands and Edwards warm body against his side.
He'd cried more tears than he ever thought capable, though, it shouldn't be capable at all seeing he was actually (likely) buried six-feet under. Had he been buried? Had he been cremated? Why was he stuck at Hanbury? What was holding him here and forcing him into this awful, never-ending existence?
He missed Edward. He missed the warmth of the sun and the cold of the snow. He missed wine.
He wasn't sure how long it had been since his body had been put into a bag and carried up the stairs from the cellar... He still hadn't gone down there. He never wanted to again. It upset him greatly.
To think he'd been dead for so long... His first kiss shared with Edward, he'd already been dead…
He couldn't help but feel hurt and anger. He'd literally been scared down those cellar stairs by Archie and Thomas' ghosts… Had they not felt remorseful? Had they not felt sad that he'd be one with them?
He knew it was childish to be upset, but it was impossible not to hurt. Hurting was all William could seem to do.
He'd once wanted so greatly, to die. And by the time he'd finally found the will to live, it had been too late.
Some days, he found joy in the little things. Mice scuttling across the floor. Birds flitting around in the garden.
On days where he felt well enough to walk the grounds, he'd visit Robert and Teddy's grave. They no longer made appearances here. And since police had taken away the remains of the two sorry young men, he had been fully alone.
Hanbury Manor, a place that had at one time been his future; was now his eternal prison.
When he "woke" from his slumber, he moved to the writing desk and sat down, wanting to soend his morning staring out at thr grounds he'd forever own. Spring had taken over the garden as winter's chill finally crept away. The overgrown rose bushes were in bloom. Lush flowers and weeds devouring the landscape.
A sigh left his lips. The beauty did little to appease him. He was restless. Lonely. He wondered if this was how poor Robert felt, trapped in this mansion for decades. Would he face the same fate? Would he ache and hurt for nearly a century before another young man would come and free him?
He didn't think he'd be able to wait that long.
He'd thought that, perhaps when one died, they would relive their final moments. Perhaps have some clarity as to what was happening at the moment… But it was truly torturous hell to be forced into consciousness for an everlasting time.
No books or his phone to distract him. No television or people to call.
William Thorn wished with all his might that he'd not died here. Not all alone. Being alone was worse than being dead.
He rose from the desk and floated away from it, head down as he floated down the grand staircase and out into the front yard.
He took his place on the front steps, knees pulled up to his chest and eyes averted at his Doc Martens. At least he'd always have style, even in death…
His eyes burned and before he knew it, tears were flooding down his cheeks. He never felt them. Never heard them splash onto the marble below him.
How could a dead man cry so much?
He swiped his tears away, silently cursing under his breath. He wished deeply for someone to comfort him. Edward. Archie. Robert Thomas. Anyone.
Even now, he did not understand what he'd done to deserve a fate like this. Yes, Archie had died because he'd kicked him out in the rainstorm. But he'd never been malicious. He'd never wished others harm.
What a cruel joke it was that he was now the one suffering the most.
The sound of gravel crunching made his ears perk up. It had been a long while since the last policeman had been here. Occasionally there had been visits from teenagers or vagrants, but even those visitors had been far and few between.
He stood, trying to give him a better line of sight as a silver car came down the driveway. His breath caught in his throat. He knew this car.
It had been the same car that had once struck his beloved Archie.
Edward's car.
As it came closer, he felt his knees weaken and he'd hardly been able to steady himself against the porch's thick stone support. "Edward…" He rasped in a voice that hadn't been used in ages.
The driver of the car was unmistakable. Dark hair overgrown slightly, handsome face tinted from the sun's kiss. Beautiful brown eyes.
The car came to a stop just in front of the steps leading up to Hanbury's front door.
Edward stepped out of the car and looked up at the manor. His expression was tight, lips pressed into a line. Now that he was closer, William could see the shine to Edward's eyes. The slight redness that told him the other man had been crying too.
"Edward, you came back to me…"
The man did not reply. Instead, he turned and got something out of boot of his car. William watched, wide eyed as Edward walked up to the door and pulled out a very familiar key-ring.
He followed after the man, his eyes starting to water again. "Edward, please… Please see me. Please… Talk to me. I… I missed you."
Edward set down what he was carrying, placing it on the kitchen counter. He looked around, teary eyes started to leak further. "William?" His deep voice shook and William thought he'd go faint at the sound of his voice coming from someone else's lips.
"I'm here, Darling. I'm right here!" He put an icy hand to Edward's cheek, trying to swipe away the tear that was cascading down his golden skin.
Edward flinched, his eyes widening. "William? Is that you?"
"Yes, its me! Who else would be here waiting for you?!"
Edward swallowed, adams apple bobbing as he tried to find his words. "I'm sorry I was gone for so long… I-I was hospitalized… Then… Then I just… I wasn't sure what I should do…" He took in a shaking inhale. "I'm so sorry, William."
"Please stay. Please, don't leave me alone again!"
Edward moved to the counter. "I know how much you hated this… I… I'm sorry. Please, be angry with me if it means I can see you again." He began to unfold the item he'd brought in and William's eyes widened.
It was a ebony Ouija board with delicate rose etchings carved into the outside corners.
"I actually found this at the same shop I bought the first one from…" He gently placed the planchett down and then sat down on one of the rickety stools.
William quickly sat across from him, placing his cold fingers over Edward's warm ones.
Edward began to turn the planchett in circles, taking in a deep breath to steady himself.
"William Thorn, are you here?"
Using all his concentration, William pushed the small object to the YES.
Edward's lips split into the most beautiful smile William had ever seen.
"I knew it… I knew you were here…" He quicklt swiped at his tears.
William kept up his concentration, pushing the planchett to spell what he desperately needed to say.
"M I S S E D Y O U"
Edward sobbed giving a nod. "I missed you too… God, William, I've thought about you every day. I… I am so sorry."
"N O T Y O U R F A U L T"
"No, but I should have come sooner…" He sniffled. "I-I'm here now." He moved his hands from the board. "Please, let me see you."
"I've been trying! I don't know what else to do besides scratching my own visage into the wall."
Edward replied by reaching across the table and pulling William into a tight embrace.
William felt warmth. For the first time in ages, he felt his body and the heat that coukd course through it.
"Y-you can see me?"
"I can feel you!" Edward replied, stroking his hand through William's slightly curled locks. "I can see you, I can hear you, I-I can even smell you…" He was weeping into William's shoulder, still awkwardly stretched across the counter.
"I hope I don't smell bad, then."
"No, Darling you smell like you…" Edward finally pulled back, teary eyes searching William's.
"You came back for me…"
"I promised I wouldn't leave you." He stroked hair from William's eyes. "I'm here and I won't leave you again. I've bought Hanbury. Its our home. Just as you wanted."
William's smile grew and his heart somehow felt as if it had started beating again, hammering against his ribs. "Edward —"
"Will you haunt me, William Thorn?"
Tears once more filled his eyes and this time, he felt them glide down his cheeks. "Of course, I will."
"I love you, Will."
William answered by leaning in, closing the distance as he pushed his lips into Edward's. Unbelievably, it was the best kiss he'd ever had in all of his life (and death). Edward's lips were soft and warm. They made William's tingle and brought heat scorching through his chest.
Despite not having a beating heart, he was somehow more alive than he'd ever been.